CD Review: Joyann Parker, "Roots"

Its been quite a long time since I reviewed a country Blues album on this blog, but I just couldn't pass by Joyann Parker's new CD, "Roots".  Blues singer and composer Joyann Parker has an immensely powerful voice and is a world-class composer.  Her songs tell powerful stories, and when she sings you can feel her Blues and Rock and Roll roots.  Her music is uplifting and some times humorous.  I have attached her composition "Stay Home Mama" that I know every mother will relate to.  Joyann is a classically trained pianist with a degree from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse.  "Roots" is more than a Blues album, it showcases Joyann's ability to perform and compose at the top level in many different genres of music including Blues, Rhythm & Blues,  Rock and Roll, Country Rock and Gospel. 

Joyann Parker has a strong, brassy, clear voice and everything she composes and performs is real and believable.   Her talents include mastery of the keyboard, Vocals, Guitar, Composing and Arranging.  She is a mega star in all aspects.  "Roots" is another classic Blues album from Joyann and follows her critically acclaimed 2021 release "Out of the Dark".  I know you will enjoy her singing and songs on "Roots".  I have attached another cut from her album, "Faintly Optimistic" which is written and performed in the style of musician Bob Seger.  

According to Parker, "Every time I make a record, I think, "Oh, maybe I should make it more in a particular vein.  Maybe a Blues project that can be marketed to the Blues audience.  But I can't do that. My roots are everything. I go everywhere, but it's still me, and I'm cool with that".  Well, Joyann Parker, we are cool with that too!

PLAYLIST:

1. Roots

2. Faintly Optimistic

3. Wash It Away

4. Closing Someone Else's Blinds

5. What's Good For You

6. Juxtaposition

7. Old Flame

8. Ain't Got Time To Cry

9. Forsaken

10. Miss Evangeline

11. Going Under

12. Stay Home Mama

13. Sconnie Girl 

PLAYERS:

Joyann Parker- Lead Vocals, Guitars, Keyboard, Compositions, Arrangements

Mark Lamoine- Guitars, Background Vocals

Tim Wick- Keyboards

Chris Bates- Bass

Bill Golden- Drums, Percussion

Scott Graves- Trombone

Rich Manik- Saxophone

Dave Foley- Trumpet

Steve Roehm- Marimbo

Cierra Hill- Strings

Paul Odegaard- Trumpet

Chris Silver- Mandolin

Patricia Lacey- Background Vocals

Nester Theba- Background Vocals

Sarah Morris- Background Vocals

Chris Kroeze- Background Vocals

                                                                    "Faintly Optimistic"

                                                                       "Stay Home Mama"

                                                             

CD Review: Joyann Parker, "Out of the Dark"

 

It's been quite a while since I published a review of a Country Blues singer but the wait is over.  I just listened to Joyann Parker singing songs from her new CD release "Out of the Dark".  There is no way I could pass over reviewing this Blues/Country/Rock/Gospel Vocalist.  She is the real thing with a voice that is strong, covers several octaves and performs effortlessly.  Her singing is natural and real and she would be a welcomed addition to any fine Country-Western band.  Her voice and singing reveal a strong attachment to Old-school Country and Blues.  Joyann is a big fan of Patsy Cline because "she sang from her soul" and that's exactly what Joyann does.   As wonderful as Joyann's voice is, her greatest talent may be in her composing ability.  All 11 songs on the CD were written by Joyann and Guitarist Mark Lamoine.  If she keeps writing songs like these 11,  her songbook will be very valuable in the coming years.  The lyrics on these songs ring true to anyone even with minimal life experience.  

I spent a lot of time going back and forth listening to the songs on this CD trying to pick two.  Turns out they are all terrific and and different in terms of their feel.   But limited to two picks, I picked the title tune "Out of the Dark" and I just could not skip ""Dirty Rotten Guy".  "Out of the Dark" was inspired by the virus lockdown which stopped just about everything.  Parker says, "It's about the way I've been feeling and changing over the past year, figuring out who I am.  I was coming out of my own darkness."  "Dirty Rotten Guy" is just a fun New Orleans flavored ode to a pleasure song.  Pianist Tim Wick provides perfect keyboard work to support Parker.

                                                                    "Out of the Dark"

                                                                     "Dirty Rotten Guy"

PLAYERS:

Joyann Parker- lead vocals, Guitar 2, 9, 10,  Keyboard 3, 4, 11

Mark Lamoine- Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar 5, Background Vocals 1

Tim Wick- Piano- Organ

Brad Schaefer- Bass

Bill Golden- Drums, Percussion, Background Vocals 1

Rich Manik- Flute 9, Saxophones 8, 9

Dave Foley- Trumpet 6

Paul Mayasich- Slide Guitar 5

Laycey Dreamz- Background Vocals 2, 11

Patricia Lacy- Background Vocals 2, 11

Geoff Jones- Background Vocals 8

Kenny Britt- Background Vocals 8

Rory Hoffman- Harmonica 3

Greg Byers- Strings 4, 11

PLAYLIST:

1. Gone So Long

2. Carry On

3. Bad Version Of Myself

4. What Did You Expect

5. Either Way

6. Predator

7. Dirty Rotten Guy

8. Come On Baby (Take Me Dancing)

9. Fool For You

10. Hit Me Like A Train

11. Out Of The Dark

CD Review: Joyann Parker, "Hard To Love"

It's been a while since I reviewed a new Blues CD because I had not hear anything exceptional.  My wait ended when I listened to Joyann Parker's "Hard To Love". Classically trained pianist, Joyann Parker has been singing and writing music for several years, but surprisingly she is relatively new to the Blues.  About 4 years ago, Joyann discovered the Blues.  "It just clicked" she said, "This is what I am supposed to do."

For Joyann the door to Blues and Soul music opened almost accidentally.  After singing Aretha Franklin's soul classic, "Chain of Fools," at a contest, Parker received an invitation to join a Blues band.  The following year, the band "Joyann Parker & Sweet Tea" won the Minnesota Blues Society's band competition and in 2015 went to Memphis to represent the Blues Society and compete in the International Blues Challenge.  According to Joyann, "After I went to the Stax Museum in Memphis, it was like somebody lit a fire under me.  I thought, I love this music. I want to write it so I went home and wrote the songs."

Joyann has a strong, beautiful and sensual voice with amazing range that fits the Blues perfectly.  Her songs are wonderful, fresh and all tell believable stories about love and life.  They are several levels above most new Blues songs you might hear today and they tell stories that hit home with her audiences.  She mentions something very interesting about the Blues.  "I have been performing for some younger crowds and they say "I don't like the Blues".  But after I perform one of my songs, they often say "I love that song".  I tell them "That's the Blues",   I have had the same experience going to a Blues concert with someone who tells me they don't really care for the Blues.  They usually leave the concert in love with the Blues.

Blues Singer/composer/Pianist Joyann Parker also co-produced this CD with the talented Guitar player Mark Lamoine who also contributed back-up Vocals.  Simply put "Hard to Love" is a classic Blues CD spotlighting a soon to be classic Blues Vocalist!
Players:
Joyann Parker-Vocal, Guitar, Piano, Trumpet, Composer, Arranger, Co-Producer
Mark Lamoine- Guitar, Background Vocals, Co-Producer
Tim Wick-Piano, Organ
Michael Carvale-Bass
Alec Tackmann-Drums, Percussion
Gunhild Carling-Horns on "Who What When Where Why"

Playlist:
1. "Memphis"
2. "Envy"
3. "Home"
4. "Dizzy"
5. "Jigsaw Heart" 
6.  "Who What When Where Why"
7. "Bluer Than You"
8. "Ray"
9.  "Evil Heart"
10. Take Your Heart and Run"
11. "Your Mama"
12. "What Happened to Me"
13. "Hard To Love"

I have attached a "YouTube" of Joyann Parker singing her original composition "Memphis" from her new CD, "Hard To Love".